Venmo for America? Why the U.S. Government Now Wants You to Help Pay the $36.7 Trillion National Debt — One Payment at a Time

Shalena
Jul 26
4 min read

Venmo for America? Why the U.S. Government Now Wants You to Help Pay the $36.7 Trillion National Debt — One Payment at a Time! The U.S. Government Now Accepts Venmo to Pay Down the National Debt — Wait, Seriously? It’s real. You can now Venmo the federal government to help pay down its colossal $36.7 trillion national debt. And yes, this is exactly as wild as it sounds.

Just when you thought American politics and economics couldn’t get any more surreal, here comes a headline you’d expect from The Onion — the U.S. government now accepts Venmo payments to help pay off the national debt. Yep. You read that right.

As of 2025, the U.S. Treasury has added Venmo and PayPal to its online payment system, giving Americans a modern way to make voluntary donations toward lowering the national debt. But before you open your app and start typing “@UncleSam,” let’s break down what’s really going on.

What Is This Program—and Is It New?

The Venmo feature is part of a long-standing program called "Gifts to Reduce the Public Debt" that dates all the way back to 1961, when Congress passed a law allowing citizens to make donations directly to the U.S. government.

This law gave the Treasury Department the authority to collect and deposit voluntary contributions to a special fund designed to reduce public debt. But here’s the kicker: it has never really caught on.

In total, since the mid-1990s (when digital reporting began), Americans have donated around $67.3 million to this initiative. That may sound impressive—until you realize that the national debt increases by more than $55,000 every second.

The 2025 Venmo Update: Going Digital to Get Donations

In a quiet update rolled out between February and March 2025, the Treasury’s online portal, Pay.gov, was upgraded to include Venmo and PayPal as payment methods.

This move is part of an effort to “modernize” the donation process and make it easier for younger, digital-first Americans to participate. And let’s be honest—writing a check to the Treasury doesn’t exactly scream Gen Z energy.

Now, with just a few taps, you can Venmo the federal government a few bucks and feel like you’ve done your patriotic duty—complete with a cheeky emoji in the memo line if you’d like.

But Will It Actually Help Pay Down the Debt?

Here’s where things get real. Let’s look at the numbers:

National debt (July 2025): ~$36.7 trillion
U.S. population: ~336 million people
Debt per citizen: ~$107,000
Current growth rate: ~$55,000 per second
Max Venmo gift allowed: $999,999.99

Even if every single American Venmo’d the max amount, it wouldn’t come close to wiping out the debt.

To put this in perspective: the entire amount of donations over the last 30 years—$67.3 million—would pay down just 20 minutes’ worth of interest at current debt accumulation speeds.

Let that sink in. Thirty years of effort equals less than one lunch break on Capitol Hill.

When Did America Ever Pay Off Its Debt?

It might sound unbelievable now, but the U.S. has paid off its entire national debt—once.

That happened in January 1835, under President Andrew Jackson. Through aggressive spending cuts and land sales, Jackson’s administration reduced the debt to zero dollars. It lasted for only a few months before new expenses popped up—especially with the Panic of 1837 and future military conflicts.

Since then? The debt has grown almost uninterrupted for nearly two centuries. Wars, recessions, stimulus spending, tax cuts, and entitlement programs have all contributed to America’s ever-expanding tab.

Public Reaction: Cringe, Clownery, and a Side of Satire

As soon as news of the Venmo option hit the internet, social media lit up like the 4th of July:

“Can I leave a memo on my payment that says ‘For vibes only?’”“America is literally crowd-funding its survival.”“I Venmo’d $5 and now I expect an invite to Congress.”

While some saw it as a cute way to contribute, others criticized the government for what felt like a symbolic gesture in place of real financial reform.

What Experts Are Saying

Economists are not exactly applauding this move. Ray Dalio, billionaire hedge fund manager and financial strategist, warned earlier this year that America is heading toward a “debt crisis” if major structural changes aren’t made to federal spending, taxation, and borrowing habits.

Adding Venmo to Pay.gov might be convenient, but it does nothing to fix the underlying economic imbalance.

Think of it like throwing coins into the Grand Canyon and expecting it to fill.

How the Donation Process Works

If you're still curious (or feeling generous), here’s how to contribute:

Visit Pay.gov
Choose “Gifts to Reduce the Public Debt”
Select your payment method: bank account, debit/credit card, PayPal or Venmo
Enter the amount you'd like to give
Add an optional memo (we suggest: “For the vibes 🫠”)

It’s that simple—and entirely tax-deductible.

Symbolic or Sincere?

Here’s the truth: Venmo donations won’t solve the national debt crisis. They’re a symbolic gesture, possibly meant to encourage civic engagement or drum up good press. But they don’t replace the hard choices Congress and the White House need to make about federal budgets, taxes, and economic policy.

If you want to donate, go for it. But let’s not pretend it’s a fix.

Real change will come from accountability, not apps.

Sources

U.S. Department of the Treasury – Gifts to Reduce the Public Debt
Business Insider – You Can Now Venmo the U.S. Government
The Verge – U.S. Accepts Venmo to Pay Down Debt
Axios – Venmo Your Taxes? Yes, Really.
U.S. National Debt Clock
National Archives – Andrew Jackson and the National Debt
New York Post – Venmo for National Debt

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